What to do when BUILTIN\Users is the only enabled security group\login

  • VERSION = SQL Server 2012 Express

    SECURITY = windows authentication (so SA login is disabled)

    WINDOWS OS = Windows Server 2012R2

    1) This Windows server has 1 instance of SQL Server 2012 Express installed and it is setup as a named instance.

    2) The only group/users listed in the SECURITY\Login node (when checked using SQL Mgt Studio while connected remotely to the server using RDP) is BUILTIN\Users

    I did not setup this SQL Express instance so I don't know its history but the fax service/app that uses the DB on this SQL Instance is not working and when I went to trouble shoot the SQL side for the sysadmin who manages it I found myself unable to access the logs or anything else other then the system DB's and I believe its because someone or something has removed the BUILTIN\Administrators group that I believe is added by default when SQL express is installed. I can't even change the security setting or what users/groups are setup and I am connected (via Remote Desktop) as a domain admin and I am running SQL Mgt Studio as administrator.

    QUESTIONS

    A) does this sound like a messed up setup of SQL Express? Presumably because someone or something removed the BUILTIN\Administartors group without first making sure there was another way to get connected to the SQL Instance?

    B) How do I fix this without reinstalling SQL Express?

    Thanks

    Kindest Regards,

    Just say No to Facebook!
  • Here is an old standby. Start SQL Server from the command prompt with the '-m' option. Connect with sqlcmd (SSMS may try to create more than one connection) and create a login for yourself with sa privileges. Then restart SQL Server.

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